Stopping device for looms or the like



A ril 23, 1935. BREEN' 1,998,949

I STOPPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f; .fi

, ff y $74 117? A ril 23, 1935. J. BREEN 1,998,949

STOPPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS OR THE LIKE I I Filed May 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 23, 1935.

J. BREEN STOPPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 19335 4 Sheets$heet 3 lav/e177 '01":

April 23, 1935. J. BREEN STOPPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS OR THE LIKE Fiied May 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1,998,949 v i STOPPING DEVICE FOR L'ooMs' on THE LIKE Jack Breen, Towanda, Pa. Application May 15,-1933,vseri i No. 671.69

18 Claims; (o1.139--337) This invention'relates to an electrical device for arresting the operationof .looms when a harness-cord breaks or slipsor when for any cause oneor more of the'harness-frames fall below the bottom limit of their travelp Obviously, when a harness-frame is completely released, for example, by rupture of a cord,breakageof the warp threads will ensue. If, however, the harness suspension is only disarranged, the displacement may be such as to cause the warp yarns to rub on the shuttle race. When the warp consists of or embodies fine silk or synthetic yarns such rubbing action will cause chafing and fracture of the fibers of the yarn with resulting faults that are sometimes not discernible untilafter the cloth has been removed from the loom or the weaving has at least proceeded too far for rectification of the fault. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple device for the'purpose loom without protracted interruption in its operation, and which is readily accessible for adjustment. 7

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes several preferred embodiments ofthe-invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved stopping device showing the method of applying it to a loom; f

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for the device;

Fig. 3 is a detailed front view of a contactblade and its holder;

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the blade and holder assembled within a carrier;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the'same;

Fig. 6 is afront view showing an alternative mounting for the blade;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the mounting trated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the device showing it I applied to a different harness; V Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the spring hook used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of va modified form of heddle-frame; r m

Fig. 11 is a front view of an alternative mounting for the contact-blade;

Fig. 12 shows the device removed-from the loom and illustrates the method of packing the parts for shipment or storage;

intended, easy to apply to and remove from the I V Fig. 13 is a perspective-view of a modified form of harness; V I Fig. 14 is a detailed view of the rear hanger;

and

Fig. 15 is a composite perspective view of the 5) parts of a modified type of supporting means Like reference :characters indicate the same parts throughoutthe specification and drawings.. In the drawings the arrow a designates a direction of view from front to rear of the loom- 10 The term fstop-motion. is used in a generic senseto denote any form of electrical loom'stopping device controlled either by the warp or filling threads, and to include such instrumentalities as are necessary to effect stopping of the 15 loom.

The term magnet includes any known electromagnetic device suited for stopmotion service, whether it be used with direct or alternating cur? rent. e j

The term generator connotes any source of electrical energy such as a magneto, dynamo, transformer, battery or thelike. The term distribution system designates th wiring and conections that connect the generator '25 with the stop-motion instrumentalitiesr Return circuit defines suitable conductive instrumentalities through which the current, after serving the stop-motion, returns to the generator, and may include' brackets, bolts and the loom-frame in which the circuit is, usually grounded. h

The term;cor d or harness-cord connotes. harness suspension of any kind. 7

In Figs. 1 and 8 only one harness H although a plurality of harnesses are usually employed in looms of the present type. 'Each harness-frame is moved vertically by the pattern mechanism, not shown, through means of harness-cords 4 and 5. Normally this vertical movement extends, between definite prescribed. limits and movement beyond such limits is abnormal. .The cords 4 and 5 are usually carried over sheaves 6 mounted on the front and rear loom arch-members I and 8. These members are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate a number of harnesses. As shown in Fig. 10 each harness-frame comprises a wooden top member 9 and a wooden bottom member I 0 which are joined togetherby means of metal end pieces ll. 0 v

Extending from end to end of the harness-frame andsecured to the metal end pieces II is a top the heddles I 4 arestrung in the usual'manner. 5

is shown, I

the hedd-le-shafts.

Extending through the interior of the harnessframes and transversely of the heddle-shafts are two contact units C which are mounted on the loom by suspending them from the arch-members l and 8 thereof in the manner as later explained. The contact units comprise metallic blades I which are arranged for vertical sliding movement within the sides of a holder or bar 4? and preferably insulated therefrom by a strip It of fiber or similar nonconductive material. As both contact units are identical in construction only one will be herein described in detail, The rearward end of the contact-blade I5 projects beyond the holder I"! and "the insulator I6 to provide a terminal for receiving an electrical circuit wire i3. As shown in Fig. 3 the holder I! is formed near its ends with two slots I9 and two recesses 28. The contact-bladed!) together with the insulator I5 and holder II are mounted in a metallic carrier 2| which is of channel form in cross-section, the sides of the channel rising above the top edge of the holder H but not extending to the'level of the top edge of the'contact-blade i 5, when the latter is in normal raised position.- i f In the sides of the carrier 2I are two holes 22 which register with the slots I9 in the holder I I. Headed pins 23 and 24 are inserted through the ioles' 22 and slots I9 to-slidablyrnount the holder it? in the carrier 2I'; cotter-pins being used to prevent axial displacement of the pins. Springs 28. positioned in the recesses ofthe holder i1 and bearing against the bottom of the carrier ZI act to maintain the holder II elevated with the top edge of the blade I5 above the level of the top edges ii? of the carrier II as above described. The front pin' 2L3- is longer than the rear pin 24 to provide that it may pass through anangle piece Etwnich supports the carrier 2I and its attached holder i? and blade I5. The angle piece 28 is fastened to the bottom of afront hanger'29 which is ecured at its upper end to a depending extension 35 of abracket 3| by means of a bolt 32 and a thumb nut 33. The bracket 3I is'secured'to the front arch I of the loom by a pair of bolts 3'4 and a clamping plate'35.

The rearward end of the carrier 2I is secured to a rear hanger 36 by a clamp-plate 31 and a bolt 38. The rear hanger 36 is offset at- 39 by nearlythe thickness of the carrier 2I -so that by tightening the bolt 38 the plate 31 is clamped to the carrier. This fastening means provides for adjustment when the device is'used with looms of different types and sizes wherein various forms of harness'equipment are employed. The rear hanger is supported from the rear arch 8 by a bracket 35 and plate 35 similar in construction to those already described.

Thedepending extension of each bracket 3| is formed with serrations or corrugations 4 3 on its inner face against which the top of the hanger is secured. The topinner sides of the front and rear hangers 29 and 35. are formed with similar serrations or corrugations 4! adapted to be clamped against the serrations 43 of the brack- The serrations and H are of equal pitch and of sufficiently close spacing to permit fine adjustment in the height of the contactblades id to provide for proper cooperation with As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the circuit closing units comprising the contactblades 15 and their holders II are located slightly below the top heddle-shaft I2 with which they coact. To effect vertical adjustment of the contact units the front and rear hangers 29 and are provided with slots 43 and 44 in their serrated upper ends through which the bolts 32 extend. The interlocked serrated surfaces not only provide for vertical adjustment of the units but also serve as a locking means to insure against turning and displacement thereof.

The contact unitsare connected in an electrical circuit in the manner as next explained. From one pole of the generator 45 a distribution system 46 runs through a switch 48 to the magnet l! of the stop-motion of the loom. From the magnet 41 the circuit wire I8, previously mentioned, extends to the contact-blade I5 which forms a terminal for the distribution system 46. The return wire 49 extends from the metallic holder 2| of the contact unit to the other pole of the generator to complete the circuit. In the event of breakage or disarrangement of any part of the harness suspension means such as one of the cords 4 or 5, the harness-frame falls below its normal operating position. When the harness-frame descends its top heddle-shaft I2 encounters the contact-blade I5 and pushes the latter'downwardly within the carrier 1|. 'Asthe' blade I5 is slid downwardly against the action of-the springs 26 the shaft I 2 also encounters the top edges of the carrier 2| thuspermitting the current to pass between the blade I 5 and the carrier. With the circuit thus closed the magnet 46 is energized to operate suitable instrumentalities, well known to those versed in the art, which act to stop the loom or other apparatus. V

"Theforegoing description constitutes one embodiment of the invention but various modifications, to be next described, may be made in the construction thereof. Figs. 6 and '7 show an alternative construction in which the blade 50, which corresponds to the blade I5 above described, is embedded or moulded in a holder 5I constructed of'suitable insulation material. The non-conductive'holder 5I has 'two slots 52 corresponding to the slots I9 and recesses 53 corresponding to the recesses before described. In this particular embodiment the insulation strip I6 is eliminated.

In some instances the harness-frames are raised through means of the straps or cords and are returned downwardly by springs 54 shown in Fig. 8. The'harness-springs 54 are usually anchored to a-spider-member 55 which in turn is to the loom-frame 56 to which the stopmotion return circuit is grounded. As in the first describedconstruction'when the harness drops the top shaft I2 encounters:the contact-blade 5'! which is mounted in the metallic body or holder 53 of Fig. 11. The blade 51 is insulated from the holder by means of a strip 59. In this construction, the blade need not yield and descend when hit or encountered by the top shaft I2 of a descending harness-frame. The 'top and bottom shafts I2 and I3 are secured to the metal end members II'of the harness-frame H so that they are metallically and therefore electrically connected. The bottom shaft I3 is connected to the springs 54 by means of a hook BI shown in detail in Fig. 9. The shank 60 of the hook BI is preferably slotted to receive the bottom shaft or bar I3 which is forced into the slot. The manner of suspending the contact-blade 5! isthe same as previously explained. The front end of the holder 58 is secured by means of the pin 23 to the angle piece 28 of the front hanger 29 which in turn is secured to the bracket 3!. The rear hanger 52 is attached to the holder 58 by the bolt 63 and thumb-nut 64; see Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 11 the holder 58 has an elongated slot 65 through which the bolt 63 extends whereby to permit the rear hanger 62 to be adjusted along the holder to adapt it for use with various sizeloomsi In this modified form of device the'distribution system 45 from the generator is connected to the projecting rearextremity of the contact-blade 51 whilethe return circuitextends from the generator to the loom-frame in which-it is grounded. From the grounding point the current passes through the loom-frame 56,,spider 55, springs 54,

' hook 6|, bottom heddle-shaft I3, harness end secured by means of a bolt 82.

members l l to the top shaft I2 which forms a terminal of the return circuit. When theharness-frame is in normal suspension, the top shaft !2 does not reach and encounter the contact-blade 51, but when the harness-framehas been lowered ity, the circuit is thus closed and the magnet 41 is energized to effect stopping of the loom. 7 Referring now to Fig. 13,-in place of the heddleshaft (2 aseparate metal contact-bar 66 extending from end to end of the harness-frame may be used with equal success. In place of using an elongated hook 6| with a split shank, the metal end'member I of the harness-frame H may be extended along the bottom. of the lower harness-frame member In in the through the means of separate brackets or parts secured to the loom side as for example the brackr et which carries the arch, The bracket 19 has atoothed or corrugated area I! which is provided with a bolt slot 1.2. A second bracket 13 also having corrugations 14 and a slot 15 is secured to the bracket 10 by means of a bolt 16 and a nut Tl the bolt 16 passing through the slots 72 and E5 to permit vertical adjustment of the bracket '53. Thebracket I3 is provided at one end with a seat 48 against which an arm 80 is Extending rearwardly from the bracket 13 is an arm -19. Both arms 88 and 19 have apertures for receiving bolts 3! and 83 which secure the contact unit C thereto. The contact unit of this construction is preferably the same as that shown in Fig. 11 in which the blade is carried in a metal holder.

Either of the general constructions above described provides an attachment that can be compacted into a small space for shipment or storage.

Referring to Fig. 12 the contact unit C 'comprising the blade andconnected parts shown in Figs. 3, 6, 11 or 15 may be folded back upon the front hanger 29 by swinging them on the pin 23. The rear hanger may be placed alongside the contact units and all the parts wrapped up together. When attaching the device to a loom it is neces-, sary only to swing the contact unitopen from its hanger, pass its-free end through the harness and clamp the suspension bracket in place on the arch. lhe rear hanger is then mounted on the arch and the contact unit attached to the rear hanger, after which the contact unit may be adjusted to its proper height. The attachment of the parts in this manner thus requires but a brief stopping of the loom.- Moreover, the, height of the contact unit-is such asto permit ready in-' spection for setting, and adjustment may be made While the loom is in operation.

While I have herein shown and described the improved device as embodied in several preferred forms of construction, it is to be understood that further modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement-of its parts which would fall within the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: I

".1. In a stop-device for looms, the combination of an electrical stop-motion, an electrical circuit therefor, a .heddle-shaft for the loom harness constituted as a conductor, electrical connections between the heddle-shaft and one side of the electrical circuit, and an immovable electrical terminal connected with the other side of the circuit and extending through the harness transversely of. and below said heddle-shaft to intercept the latter in itsdownwardmovement, said heddleshaft and terminal making electrical contact to close the circuitwhen such interception occurs to cause actuation of the stop-motion to arrest the operation'of the loom.

2. In a device for stopping a loom through an proper positioning of a harness-frame, the com- 'bination with the harness-frame and heddleshafts therefor, of an electrical stop-motion, an

electrical circuit for thestop-motion, a stationary front to back of the loom, means to support the forward end of the contact-member in position to intercept the heddle-shaft of the front harness in case of excessive descent of the latter, means to support the rearward end of the contact-member in a position .to intercept the heddle-shaft of the rearmostharness-frame and of other harnessframes in case of excessive descent by .any of them,means to connect the contact-member with one side of the electrical circuit, and means to connect the heddle-shafts with the opposite side of the circuit.

'3. In adevice for stopping a loom, the combination with a harness-framethereof and the heddleshaft therefor, of an electrical stop-motion, an electrical circuit. for said stop-motion, an electrical contact-member mounted transversely of the heddle-shaft below its normal limit of descent, means adjustable tomount the ends of said contact-member at differentv heights, and means for connecting the contact-member and heddleshafts with opposite sides of the electrical circuit whereby encounter of the heddle-shaft with the contact-member by descent of the harness-frame beyond its normal limit will close the circuit through said heddle-shaftto cause action of the stop-motion.

4. In a device for stopping a 100m, the combina--' means to-support the rearward end' of said con-, tact-member, said adjustablesuspension means cooperating to locate the contact-member in close proximity to the lowerlimit of normal move-- ment of each of the heddle-shafts, means to connect the contact-member with one side of the electrical circuit, and means to connect each heddle-shaft. with the opposite side of the circuit said contact-bar with whereby closing of the electrical circuit is effected through any heddle-shaft that encounters the contact-member by reason of its harnessframe descending below its normal limit of movement.

5. In a stop-device for looms, the combination with a harness, heddle-shafts carried by the harness, means to move the harness withina. normal range of movement, and a usual electrical stop motion, of a channel-shaped carrier, a contactbar within the carrier, insulation for the contactbar, means to mount the contact-bar for vertical movement relative to the carrier, springs to impart such vertical movement to the. contact-bar to maintain its top edge normally above the top edges of the carrier, means to mount the carrier and contact-bar within the harness and adjacent the station of the heddle-shafts at one normal extreme of movement to be encountered by said shafts whenthe latter are moved beyond their normal range, and circuit connections to connect the contactbar with the electrical stop-motion.

6. In a device for stopping a loom through improper positioning of a harness-frame, the combination with the harness-frame, its heddleshaft, a stop-motion, distributing system and return circuit for said stop-motion, of a contactmenicer extending through said heddle-frame transversely of the heddle-shaft and in position to be encountered by said heddle-shaft when-the latter is carried beyond'the normal extreme of its movement, means to electrically connect the contact-member with the distributing system, and means to connect the heddle-shaft with the return circuit.

In a device for stopping a loom when a harness-frame travels beyond the normal extreme of its path of movement, the combination with a stop-motion, a harness-frame and heddle-shaft carried by said frame, of a contact-blade, insulation within which said blade is mounted, elastic support to hold the'blade in position to encounter the heddle-shaft should said shaft travel beyond its normal path and permit the blade to yield uponlsuch encounter, a circuit wire to connect the blade with the stop-motion, a carrier by which the blade and insulation and elastic support are mounted on the loom-frame, and means to mount the carrier on the loom-frame in electrical contact therewith. a

8. In a stop-device for looms, the combination with a harness, heddle-Shaftscarried by the harness, means to move the harness within a normal range of movement and a usual electrical stoprnotion, of a carrier, means to mount the carrier within and transversely of the harness adjacent heddle-shafts extreme range of movement to be encountered by any heddle-shaft that moves beyond its normal range, acontact-bar vertically movable with respect to said carrier, means to mount the contact-bar on the carrier, springs to impart vertical movement to raise the top edge of the contact-bar above the top edge of the carrier, and circuit connections connecting the electrical stopping agency.

9. In a device for stopping a loom, the combination with a plurality of harness-frames and heddle-chafts carried thereby, of an immovable contact-blade extending through, said frames transversely of said shafts in position to be engaged thereby when the heddleframes descend beyond their normal limit, a stop-motion, and an electrical circuit including the blade and the stopmotion, said electrical stop-motion circuit being closed by engagement of the blade with a heddleshaft.

10. In a device for stopping. a loom when a harness-frame is out" of vertical placement, the combination with'a heddle-shaft in said frame, of an immovable contact-blade extending through said frame transversely of and outside th'e'normal' range of. movement of the shaft, insulation for said blade, and means to mount the insulated blade in the loom, of a stop-motion, a return circuit therefor, a source of electrical current for the circuit,-acircuit wire connecting the blade 'with'said stop-motion, and means to connect the blade with the return circuit thereof whereby contact of the shaft with the blade acts to close the circuit and actuate said stop-motion.

11. In a device for stopping av loom, the combination with a loom-harness, heddle-shafts, a stop-motion, its distributing system, its return circuit and the loom-frame in which the return circuit is'grounded of a U-shaped carrier, an insulated blade within the carrier and movable vertically with respectto said carrier, insulation for the blade, means to hold the blade'to the carrier and limit its movement,'springs to'lift and to normally maintain the'blade elevated, means to mount the-carrieron the loom-frame and in electrical connection therewithymeans for supporting-said blade in proximity to the normal extreme of-travel of said heddle-shafts, and a circuit wire connecting said blade with the stopmotion.

12. In a device for stopping'a loom, the combination with a h'arness frame, heddle-shafts carried thereby, a stop-motion, a distribution system and return circuit, of a U-shaped carrier 2 l a blade within the carrier, an insulated holder ii f'or'the blade formed with transverse slots l9 and recesses '20, pins extending'through the carrier and the slotsin-the holder, springs within the recesses and reacting against the carrier to raise the holder and blade, a circuit wire to connect the blade with the stop-motion'circuit, and means to mount the carrier on the loom in connection with the return circuit of the stop-motion.

13. In an electrical device for stopping looms through derangement of a harness-frame, the combination'with a harness-frame, a heddleshaft and means to suspend them, of an immovable electrical terminal extending through and transversely of said harness-frame out of contactwith said shaft, means to mount said terminal, a stop-motion magnet, a generator, a circuit connecting theterminal and magnet in series with one pole of the generator, and connections between the other pole of the generator and the heddle-shaft.

14. The combination with the electric circuit of a loom stop-motion, a plurality of heddleshafts, harness-frames to carry said heddleshafts, suspension devices for said harnessframes, and means to connect said heddle-shafts with one side of the stop-motion circuit, of immovable terminals for the other side of said circuit near each end of the harness-frames, each terminal extending through all the harnessframes transversely of and below the aforesaid heddle-shafts, and means to mount said terminals adjustably with respect to said heddle-shafts.

15. In an electrical device for stopping looms when a harness-frame drops, the combination with a loom, its arch, harness-frames, heddleshafts, means for operativelysuspending the harness-frames and shafts, a generator and circuit connections connecting the heddle-shafts with one pole of the generator, a magnet, circuit connections to connect the magnet to the other pole of the energy source, of a stationary circuit terminal connected in series with the magnet and extending through the harness-frames and below the shafts, a circuit wire to connect said terminal and magnet, a bracket to suspend the stationary terminal mounted on the loo-m arch, means to secure the bracket to the arch, hangers adjustably mounted on said bracket, said hangers being secured to the stationary terminal, and means to secure the hangers to the aforesaid bracket in adjusted position.

16. In a device for stopping a loom upon occurrence of'a default of the harness suspension, the combination with the loom arch-members, harness-frames, heddle-shafts carried by the harness-frames, suspension devices for the harness, a stop-motion, contact-members extending through the harness-frames and below the heddle-shafts, a stop-motion and circuit wires connecting the contact-members with the stop-motion, of brackets mounted on the arch-members, hangers adjustable on said brackets, means to secure said hangers and brackets in adjusted position, means to mount the contact-members on the hangers, and insulation between the contactmembers and said mountings.

17. In a device for stopping a loom upon default of the harness suspension, the combination with a front arch-member, a rear arch-member, harness-frames, heddle-shafts carried by said harness-frames, suspension devices for the harness, a stop-motion, contact-members extending through the harness-frames and transversely of latter, insulation for the contact-members, and,

circuit wires to connect the contact-members with the stop-motion. I

18. In an electric device for stopping a loom through disarrangement of a harness-frame, the combination with the harness-frame, an electrically conductive member mounted within and carried by said frame and extending longitudinally thereof, and means to suspend said frame and member, of an immovable contact-member ex tending through and transversely of said harnessframe and out of contact with the contact member carried thereby when the harness-frame is in normal arrangement but causedto contact with said member through disarrangement of said harness-frame, means to adjust said contactmember in such relation, a stop-motion, a generator therefor, a circuit wire connecting the contact-member with the stop-motion, and means to connect the contact member within the harness-frame with said generator.

JACK BREEN. 

